Brace for fence-posts.



W. 0. FREELAND.

BRAGE IOR HINGE POSTS. APPLICATION FILED APR.8,1910.

I 962,950. Patented June 28, 1910. V

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM O. FREELANID, OF AINSWORTH, IOWA.

BRACE FOR FENCE-POSTS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IVILLIAM 0. FREE- LAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ainsworth, in the county of W'ashington and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Braces for F ence-Posts, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in braces for fence posts.

In barb and other wire fences, the tension of the wire has a tendency to draw the posts together, and this is especially true of corner posts, and in order to counteract this tendency, it is customary to brace the ends and corners of the fence by extending a brace diagonally from a point at or near the upper end of the end or corner post to the lower end of the next post, each end of the brace being securely fastened. Frequently the posts are notched a little to let the brace in the post the better to hold the end or corner post in place.

The object of my present invention is to provide a simple means for accomplishing this bracing of the end or corner posts.

With this object in view, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is a view in side elevation; and Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail in perspective.

A and B represent two posts, and C is the brace which extends between the two. A plate 1 is preferably slotted, as at 2, and provided with out-turned vertically disposed flanges 3, 3, and a hinge 4 is hinged to the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 8, 1910.

Patented June 28, 1910. Serial No. 554,191.

plate and secured to the braces, the ends of the braces being located in the slots 2, 2, between the flanges 3, 8. In applying the brace, the lower end is nailed or screwed to the inner post, and the upper end is then lowered against and secured rigidly to the end or corner post by nailing, spiking or screwing the plate thereto, as fully illustrated in the drawing.

In this way, a very simple, inexpensive and effectual brace is formed for retaining the end or corner post in a rigidly braced upright position.

These plates and hinges may be made at a small initial cost, and a brace thus equipped, when fitted as to length, may be applied with ease and facility.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An article of the character described, comprising a brace, flanged plates, and hinges connected with the plates and secured to the brace, the flanges in position to embrace the sides of the brace.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a brace having mitered ends in combination with slotted plates having outturned flanges at either side of the slots, and hinges located between the planes of the flanges and secured to the opposite edges of the brace.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

WVILLIAM O. FREELAND.

Witnesses F. W. BANDY, DANIEL VVILDE. 

